How to Remove Rusted Lug Nuts on Calkins Boat Trailer Hubs in Order to Replace Tires

Question:

On this trailer the lugs are rusted on .I try to remove one and the bolt broke off .The hub and the plate behind it is also rusted away . This trailer had hydraulic brakes on it . The trailer has not been move in ten years . I have to repair it to move it cause it needs new tires to move it. The tongue brake looks alright. Can you tell me what I need to fix it. and Is your company Able to supply the parts I need . If you can tell me the price I will see about ordering them. Thank you

asked by: Jimmy S

Helpful Expert Reply:

I can suggest two methods for helping to loosen the rusted-on lug nuts on your Calkins boat trailer. The first method, which takes longer, is to apply and re-apply (as many times as necessary) a penetrating oil and allow it time to work through the rust on the threads. Depending on how severe the rust damage is this may take anywhere from hours to days. Such products are offered under a number of different brand names. They work slowly but also have less chance of causing damage.

The other way to convince a lug nut to come loose is to heat it with a torch until it is very hot (hot enough to glow red). Once heated you can try your lug wrench again (being careful to avoid the hot spots) to see if the heat has broken down the rust.

If you do not mind breaking the lug nuts you can use a nut splitter to crack each nut; this will of course require you to obtain all new nuts. Considering how long the trailer has been sitting and rusting it is a good possibility that you will end up having to replace the entire hub and brake assemblies as well, so if you prefer to get into things quickly this method might be the way to go.

We can definitely assist you with finding correct replacement parts for the trailer. We offer wheels, tires, hubs, bearings, races and both drum and disk brake assemblies. In order to identify correct replacement parts you will need to remove the existing bearings and races and look up the replacement parts based on those original part numbers.

The photo provided shows you examples of bearings, races, and seals and where the part numbers are typically located. It also shows the points on the spindles and hubs where accurate measurements can be taken (using a precision digital caliper) if the part numbers cannot be located on the originals. It is much easier and more accurate to identify replacement parts based on original part numbers than on measurements but both methods work.

I have included links to two helpful articles concerning trailer brakes (drum and disk) as well as a link to our main product page for bearings and races. I have also linked an article concerning how to replace bearings, races and seals that will be helpful once you are ready to reassemble the trailer with the new parts.

expert reply by: Adam R